Mephibosheth was a nobody. Actually, worse than that: he was a grandson of King Saul, displaced by the new king, David. Later his cousins would be slain for Saul's offenses; as it was, Mephibosheth was lame. In the days before office jobs, this was a major disability. He had lost whatever land was his by family allotment and was living with someone else.
The crown jewel of the family was dead, and so was Mephibosheth's father, Jonathan, who would have been next in line for the crown if things had gone differently. Evil had cloaked the family since the day both king and son had perished: Mephibosheth's caretaker, fleeing from possible enemy soldiers, dropped him; he was lame from the age of five.
The particular word Hebrew word translated "lame" describing this man's feet is not used elsewhere in the Old Testament to describe the condition of "lameness". The basic meaning is to be "smitten". It's based on a verb that means that someone was involved in the smiting or striking. Did God smite him? Or was it just part of what seemed to be a family curse? In any case, Mephibosheth had no reason to rejoice.
Meanwhile, King David, now secure in his throne, began to think about his dear friend Jonathan, who had helped him even when it displeased his father the king. He had promised to show favor to Jonathan's house--that is, his family--and now he sought to fulfill that oath. Was any of his family yet alive?
Investigation turned up Mephibosheth. They brought him before the king:
"Now when Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, had come to David, he fell on his face and prostrated himself. Then David said, 'Mephibosheth?' And he answered, 'Here is your servant!' So David said to him, 'Do not fear, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father's sake, and I will restore to you all the land of Saul your grandfather; and you shall eat bread at my table continually.'" II Sam 9:6-7
Wow. Not only had the young man obtained favor with the King, he was going to eat at his table! Clearly Mephibosheth was astonished:
"Then he bowed himself, and said, 'What is your servant, that you should look upon such a dead dog as I?'" II Sam 9:8
There was no claim he could make upon David. Indeed, the king was granting this kindness "for Jonathan's sake."
We are all smitten as Mephibosheth was: part of a people stained and cursed with evil. Our feet are lame. We cannot walk as we would, nor do any good ourselves (Rom 3:10-12). Only through the merits of Another can we approach God.
Mephibosheth took his meals with the king. I wonder if he was carried. He was certainly helped. Every day we are helped by the Spirit of God to take our meals with the King.
So precious was this relationship that when Mephibosheth was tricked by his servant and lost his land again (see II Sam 19:24-30), his did not insist on any "rights"--he merely wanted the king in his rightful place, and himself at the table. Mere worldly blessings were secondary.
The name Mephibosheth means "dispeller of shame." In his youth he must have thought the name a joke, as every misfortune dragged him down. But certainly all shame was dispelled by his king.
"Only a sinner--saved by grace!"
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